During the last three elections, the media defined the Christian vote as the Evangelical vote. About 25% of the voting public consider themselves to be evangelicals, and most of these vote Republican. But this is a vote that can't be depended upon. During the 2004 election, 78% of evangelicals voted for Bush, and 22% voted for Kerry. During the 2006 election, 28% voted for Democrats. Although this vote is still not a third, over 40% of Evangelicals polled said they are not happy with the direction of the country, and most have credited their Democratic vote to the corruption in the Republican party and the Iraq War.
Although Evangelicals have had a history of being politically conservative, historically, they were actually socially progressive. They were in the forefront of social reforms, such as abolition and women's rights in the 1800's until they were courted by the Republican Party beginning (to a great extent) in 1980.
Many evangelicals are Republicans because of one issue - abortion. I know a number of Evangelicals who may agree with the Democratic Party on other issues, but will not vote for a Democrat because of the party's Pro-Choice stand. James Dobson, head of Focus on the Family, considers abortion and homosexuality to be the two most important issues confronting Christians.
But this political position is changing. Making abortion and homosexuality the most important issues facing our country has little support from the Bible. There are no verses about abortion in the Bible. And there are only about six verses about homosexuality, most of which are really about degrading sexual practices. There are no verses about lesbians. For those who say they take the Bible literally (as Evangelical Fundamentalists do) or at least see the Bible as inspired (as Evangelical Conservatives do) or take the Bible seriously (as Evangelical Liberals do), focusing on these stances without focusing on other social issues with far more Biblical support is a position which is increasingly being questioned by Evangelicals.
In the last few years, the National Evangelical Association has published two important documents showing their movement toward a more Socially Progressive agenda. One is called "For the Health of a Nation: A Call to Civic Responsibility" which recognizes that Christians need to respond to the poor, the needy, the sick, victims of AIDS, refugees, etc. The document itself is more in line with the Democratic Party policy than the policy of the Republican Party, although it also takes a very firm Pro-Life position. Some Evangelicals are also focusing on the care for the environment, and have created a document about Creation Care that recognizes Global Warming, and our call to be responsible stewards of the earth. Although this environmental document has not reached a consensus and is still in its beginning stages, it shows the progressive thought that is emerging.
I predict that future elections will show more Evangelicals gravitating to the Democratic Party, or at least not demonizing the Party as some of their more vocal members have done in the last few elections. This could pave the way for more bipartisanship among Christians, and a strong focus on the Social Gospel of Jesus, which declares as his mission: "I came to bring release to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed." (Luke 4). There are over 2000 verses in the Bible that command Christians to care for those who are in need. And hundreds of verses that say that a nation will be judged by how it deals, not with the rich and the powerful, but with how it deals with the oppressed. Many mainstream Christian churches have always focused on the Social Gospel. Evangelicals are beginning to do this as well.
I'd be interested in knowing what Christian and spiritual and value-oriented readers consider important issues. Do readers base their stands on any specific spiritual values? And from Evangelicals, I'd be interested in knowing if their stances have gone through any changes during the last few elections.